Eurasian Conquest

Eurasian Conquest DBQ

Read the following excerpt regarding the Spanish attack on the Incan society.  Then use this story, information you have learned in class, and the 4 documents given to you to answer the question on the back.  Your response must meet all of the requirements listed.

Diamond, Jared  Guns, Germs, and Steel  p.68  Norton Publishing Co. London 1997

            On November 16th, 1532 the first encounter between Spanish General/Explorer Francisco Pizarro and the Inca Emperor Atahuallpa occurred in the Andes Mountains at a place called Cajamarca.  The Inca were a massive tribe of Native Americans located in a mountainous region in the middle of South America – today Cajamarca is a part of the nation of Peru.  At the time Spain was the most powerful state in Europe, and the Inca were probably the most powerful native empire in South America.  It is the first time these two worlds (Eurasian culture and South American tribes) met on this continent.  Pizarro had a “ragtag” group of 168 Spanish soldiers with him. They did not know the terrain they were walking on; they did not know the customs, traditions, or capabilities of the natives surrounding them; and, they were at least 1,000 miles away from the next closest Spanish expedition (remnants of Balboa’s expedition in Panama).  Atahuallpa, on the other hand, was in the middle of his own empire of millions of Inca followers, including over 80,000 soldiers.  Those soldiers were fresh off a victory over an enemy tribe, so they were combat ready.  And yet, minutes after they met, Pizarro’s forces had killed over 7,000 Incans, sent their army running for higher ground, captured Atahuallpa, and taken control of the Cajamarca meeting ground.  In that brief, powerful moment, two worlds collided, and one was totally unprepared for the meeting.
The capture of the Incan Emperor was key.  The Spaniards’ superior weapons and horses would have assured an ultimate Spanish victory anyway, but holding Atahuallpa made the conquest so much easier.  Atahuallpa was worshiped by the Inca as a Sun God, and he exercised complete authority over them and their empire.  They obeyed his orders without question.  A fact Pizarro used to move his men safely through the Incan empire while they held Atahuallpa prisoner.  This capture also gave Pizarro time.  He was able to send for reinforcements from Panama, and better explore and understand the Incan territory.
In total, Pizarro held Atahuallpa prisoner for 8 months.  During this time he demanded gold and silver and food and clothing from the Inca in exchange for not killing their beloved Emperor.  The Incas delivered the “ransom”, and Pizarro killed Atahuallpa anyway.  When the Inca discovered this they attacked the Spaniards, but by this time the Europeans were so much stronger – they were fully rested, reinforced with more soldiers, guns, and horses, and they knew the layout of the Incan empire.  In a matter of days the Spaniards were able to destroy the majority of the Incan fighting force.  It was a total domination of one culture by another.
Now that European forces had arrived in the Americas, this domination would be repeated again and again, and the native peoples were always on the losing end.  The population movement of Europeans to the Americas definitely favored the visitors rather than the people that had lived on the land for thousands of years.  But why?  Use your understanding of Eurasia’s advantages and the 4 documents attached to this assignment to answer the following question:

Why were Europeans, such as Pizarro, so greatly advanced beyond the Native American populations, and thus able to defeat them and not the other way around?

Your Assignment:  Compose a 5-paragraph response to this question following the steps listed below in the exact order they are listed.
Required Steps:          Step 1:  Write a quick brainstorm of ideas (should be no more than
5 sentences) in response to the question.
Step 2:  With your partner examine each of the four documents
given to you and complete the document analysis chart.
Step 3:  Using the Create-a-Thesis worksheet on the back of the
document analysis chart design your own thesis                                                                 

statement (argument) supported by 3 ideas.
Step 4:  Commence writing your answer to the question. 
Important rule!  In answering the question you must
reference (make written mention of) at least 3 of the 4
documents.
Example:  “As shown in Document B it is clear that
                                                                       Eurasia was engaged in a vigorous trade
                                                                       Between its various cities and countries.
Step 5:  Complete your handwritten response by the end of class
Friday.  You can use the rest of the time today, and some
Of the time Friday.  After Friday your paper will lose 25%
                                               of its value, so get it done on time!